Why Have a Business Website?
For a self respecting modern-day business, a professional Website is
as important as a company brochure or the business name above the
factory gate - if not more so.

Whether your website is a source of revenue, a means marketing or
selling your product, or a vehicle for providing information
about your organisation to the outside world, the style and content
of the Website should enhance your business.

What you will need. You
may produce your own Website or pay someone to produce one for you,
or a combination of the two. You need to think about
maintenance as well as the initial creating. A good website it
likely to need regular updates and additions. A poorly
maintained or out of date website will not create the image of a
well managed business.

Whether you contract someone to produce your site or not, you will
need to consider the following:

Domain Name: You will need to secure a
domain name. Depending on the name of your business, this may
be obvious and easy, or an immediate problem. You will find
that many domain names you may think of have already been taken, and
you may need to be creative to come up with a name that reflects
your business or product. Online sites are available to help
you select and register Domain Names.
Your Domain Name will allow you to set up your own e-mail addresses.

Web Hosts: You will probably need
someone to host your Website.
Hosting your site means storing the site and making it available
through the world wide web. Some organisations that register Domain
Names also provide Web Hosting
facilities.

Website Design: Various businesses
provide Website Design services. You may either buy a complete
package that will establish and maintain your site for you, or you
may buy an initial design that you look after and develop yourself.
A good Website Designer should be able to help with
Website Optimization or
Search Engine Optimization.

Website Development Tools: If you
are going to develop or maintain your own site, you will probably
need some software packages to help you. Microsoft FrontPage
and Macromedia Dreamweaver are two possible examples

Website Templates: You may choose to
buy an off-the-shelf Website Template - again there are many
available online. A good template will provide a very polished
professional presentation of your chosen content with minimal
effort.